Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Mom versus the Marathon

courtesy of our sole intent

So after my wonderful weekend, I woke up Monday morning and started to get ready for work. I was sipping my morning coffee, perusing my FB feed, reading all the positive comments and love I got after my Zooma race. Just feeling really positive. I kept hearing the floor squeaking in my youngest son's room. I started to worry because this kid sleeps like the dead. So I peaked in this room and saw not one but 4 heads. Stunned, I let them sleep and headed to work. I sent him a text, asking him to call me when he woke up. When I asked him about the boys in his room, his response was, "why were you looking in my room?". REALLY? Long story short, he snuck out after my husband and I went to bed Sunday night, met up with his friends and decided to have a sleepover about 1130pm. Why didn't he ask, you might be wondering? He told me that he knew I'd say no.

Was it worth it? He's grounded for a week now....

That night, I got ready for bed earlier than usual. I had an 8 miler on the plan, and needed to get it in before I left for work the following morning. I was excited because it was time for me to break out the new shoes! I mean, really, what gets a runner more excited than new shoes? Especially these babies:

I love black running shoes and the pink accents and laces made them just perfect!
I got the shoes ready, laid out my running clothes for the next morning, and settled into bed with the dog. Into the deep sleep phase, I woke up to my phone vibrating. In a fog, I answered it. It was my oldest son. He told me he and his friend had been in an accident, that he was ok, and I needed to pick him up because the paramedics wouldn't let him leave without me. I asked him where he was and it took a few times for me to figure out where I needed to go. I threw on a sweatshirt, thinking I'd be back to bed shortly, and headed over to the accident.

When I turned onto the street where he was at, I saw a slew of flashing red lights--2 ambulances and 5 police cars. The car was totalled, head-on into a tree. I saw my friend, the mother of my son's friend. She told me Tom was ok, but he was in the back of the ambulance. I walked towards the ambulance and was stopped by the paramedics. I told them who I was.

In a strange twist of irony, one or the paramedics recognized me. From the bicycle accident 2 weeks ago! He asked me if I had been out running. Haha. I wish.

After looking at the lacerations on my son's face, I made the decision to take him to the ER. He argued with me about that. "I'm fine", he kept saying. Because, after all he does know everything. Needless to say, I prevailed, and once we were done, he was happy to be sewn up. After getting home about 1 am, I could not fall asleep. I decided to bag the run and try to at least get enough sleep for work the next day.

Exhausted, I started my day with a full schedule of patients. Lots and lots of school physicals. It's that time of year. My second patient, a teenage girl who wanted acne medicine, also needed her 2d chicken pox vaccine. The visit was uneventful, and the mom told me I was a "10" because I explained everything so clearly to them. I felt great hearing that. I was in the hallway as they left when I heard a thud. My patient was face down on the floor. I rushed over and turned her on her back. All I could think while attending to her was REALLY? I'm a "10" and now my patient faints? And how much more could I take? We revived her, gave her IV fluids, and sent her home.

Somehow, I pushed through the day and got it all done. Truth be told, I don't know how I held it all together yesterday. Maybe it was the exhaustion? I kept a straight face when one mom told me her son and his father have farting contests and sometimes the fart isn't just a fart. It felt like I talked about poop a lot yesterday. Yep, living the dream...

Do you remember that scene from National Lampoon's Vacation? The one where Chevy Chase loses it in the car?


That's how I felt yesterday when I was driving home, reflecting on one the most stressful 24 hours of my life. Marathon training? How is that happening? It was easier to train when the boys were younger! What was I thinking? Well, guess what..it's no longer training...it's a quest! Or as Clark Griswold put it:

......It's a quest. It's a quest for fun. You're gonna have fun, and I'm gonna have fun... We're all gonna have so much fucking fun we're gonna need plastic surgery to remove our goddamn smiles! You'll be whistling 'Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah' out of your assholes! I must be crazy!..

And no, I don't need an aspirin. Wine? Maybe....

I went to bed last night with the plan to try that run again in the morning. Smiled at my new shoes that were just waiting for me. I also needed to do a yoga session, so I got up early to get both done before I needed leave for work at noon. Both boys were home last night and for a change, I slept well. The alarm went off at 5 and I got up and out the door by 6. I had a wonderful 8 mile run and maintained a nice pace of 9:10 mins/mile. I was breathing comfortably, enough to sing along with some of my songs. Yep, I'm that runner. But it was a good run, the one I've been looking for. I need my miles. Regained my sanity. Got my confidence back. I can do this. I'm going to conquer it.






18 comments :

  1. Wow, how scary can it get...... thank goodness your son wasn't more badly hurt. Would he ever run with you? Just to have a little time together that's not so stressful? As far as it being easier when the kids were younger, I think the expression is, little kids, little problems, big kids, big problems. But don't tell that to your next patient with a baby who is looking forward to everything getting easier soon.....

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    1. I wish he'd run with me! He's my natural athlete but he doesn't participate in any sports. Sigh...

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    2. Sigh indeed.... at least you are a good role model for staying fit, he may well pick it up eventually.

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  2. Yikes! I'm really glad your son is okay and that you were able to talk him into getting medical attention. That must have been really scary. And how crazy that the paramedics recognized you. Your new shoes *are* really pretty--hope you get to put some miles on them soon!

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    1. The whole thing is really surreal. He's been pretty surly since it happened too. Tough week.

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  3. I swear. It never gets easier. Everything just changes with time and we have different challenges. Thank heavens your son is ok. Running is better than therapy!

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    1. I agree to everything you said! And I wore my tshirt that says that, running is cheaper than therapy, yesterday!

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  4. Wow you've had quite the few weeks huh? That's one phone call no mom ever wants to get. I really hope you have a very uneventful rest of your month. :)

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  5. It's great that after a good night's sleep you bounced back! I can totally relate to daddy Griswold!

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  6. Oh Wendy! Sending HUGE hugs. i am so glad your run went well...that always makes all the yuck seem less, well, yucky. <3

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  7. Whoa....wait just a second...it was easier to train when they were little???? NOOOOO please don't tell me that! Oh the things i have to look forward to. I dread the teenage years, but yet, I can't wait for them to grow out of this toddler age...I feel like you just can't win. So glad your son is ok!!! So many moms are runners and now we all know why, to destress!!! Sorry about the rough week!

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    1. It is just different training now--before it was a time issue, finding time to workout. Now it is a mental game, as they make me worry and lose sleep--that affects my workouts too! But after this week, I realized how much I need to run. I don't think I could have gotten through all this without the strength I get from running.

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  8. You've had the craziest things going on during your training lately, woman! Good grief! And, by the way, I LOVE that part of "Vacation"...HILARIOUS! I sincerely hope things become a little less crazy, soon; you deserve a break! Great job sticking with it; you are doing great.

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    1. I don't usually have this much drama in my life! Thank goodness for my sense of humor--and I'm glad I get to run it off!

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  9. Gosh! I am so happy your son and his friend are okay. What a freaking stressful day. You totally needed that awesome 8 miler! So happy you got it in!

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